Very good point about the chinesium

What about taking 4 slabs of flat 1/4" ( or thicker) plate steel and welding them together like a box along the edges. This would make the square hollow without special tools.

Trim the excess and chuck it in a lathe to turn the outside round. Not terrible labor but cost to pay someone else to do it?

Edit I just found this.
This guy has a away that may be easier and cheaper

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnJMDtZelms